Feed grinding and feeding machine



A. F. MEYER.

FEED GRINDING ANB fEEDlNG MACHINE.

MPLICATION FILED MN29.\914.

l l 94,05 3 Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

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@M JW @7 5m' y 29 ff@ fw@ ALFRED F. MEYER,

0F MoRToN,

ILLINOIS.

FEED GRINDING AND FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

Application filed January 29, 1914. Serial No. 815,273.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED F. MEYER, citizen of the United States, residing at Morton, in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed Grinding and Feeding Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a feed grinding and feeding machine.

It relates more particularly to a hog motor7 or a machine for grinding feed operated by animals feeding from it.

The object of the invention is to construct a machine of this type that may be low in cost of manufacture and that will be thoroughly serviceable.

A further object is to construct a machine of the character described which will comprise the fewest number of parts whereby it can be constructed at a low cost, and at the same time the structure will be such that it can be very easily operated to grind the feed.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following specification aided by the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same on line a2 Fig. l. Fig. 3 shows in perspective a part of the base of the machine, much enlarged, and two members adapted to move over the same. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a part of what is shown in Fig. 1 greatly enlarged. Fig. 5 shows a modified form of one of the members shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 6 shows in perspective a modified form of member shown in theother figures.

A indicates a suitable base which may be of any desired form of outline but which in the present instance is round as viewed from above and near its edge it is chamfered at B to provide a surface in a lower plane than its top surface.

Centrally of the base is erected a rod or support C which serves to carry certain parts to be described. Said rod or support is fixed in the base in any suitable manner. For example, said rod may extend through the latter and receive a nut E. Lying upon the base is a plate F, through which the rod extends, which is provided with a raceway Gr to receive a series of balls L, the said rod C being reduced in diameter so as to leave a shoulder J to rest upon said plate. This structure together with the said nut E serves as a very good means of securing the rod and the base relatively, it being understood that any other means may be employed that will serve the same end.

K is a sleeve resting upon the balls L and snugly fitting the rod and rotatable thereon, its upper part being threaded to receive a h and wheel M. Mounted so as to slide vertically upon the rod C and resting upon the hand wheel M is a bur N. The hub of the bur is notched at O and the upper end of the sleeve is provided with an extension P to cngage said notch C, said projection being sufficiently long to admit of any extent of vertical adjustment of the bur without becoming disengaged from said projection.

Q indicates an upper companion bur secured relatively to the rod or support C through suitable arms R and a sleeve S, Fig. 1. Since the rod is a stationary member and the said bur Q is secured to it said bur is also stationary, the bur N being adapted to rotate as will appear presently.

D indicates a hopper. The discharge opening in its lower small end receives the upper portion of the upper bur Q in such a manner that grain cannot find exit between it and said bur and the latter acts as a partial support therefor.

D is a shell depending below and secured to the hopper in any good manner so that both form a rigid structure. Secured to the top of the shell are braces T the other ends of which carry a cap U designed to rest upon and receive the upper end of the rod or support C. This cap and the bottom of the hopper which rests on the bur Q as described act to support the shell and hopper firmly in position. The lower end of said shell is spaced above the base a sufficient distance to allow for the movement beneath it of a series of curved arms V shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The inner ends of these said arms are pivoted each to a lug or ear K cast with the lower end of the sleeve K as indicated in Figs. 1 and 4. From their pivoted ends the arms radiate from the said sleeve K and each is bent in a long sweeping curve terminating in an upright portion or wing W, Fig. 3, and in one of its forms it also terminates in a bottom portion X which preferably conforms to the surface of the chamfered portion of the base and these parts form a cup or pocket from which the animal feeds. Each of the arms together with the terminal cup or pocket portion is preferably cast as one single rigid structure and each can be separately lifted on its pivot as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 so that any one or all of the arms may be raised for the purpose of cleaning the base or for other purposes.

It is to be noted that each of the arms near the outer end approaches its neighbor close behind the wing portion IV leaving a narrow space between it and said wing as indicated at 2 in Figs. 2 and 3. This constitutes a passage the purpose of which will appear in the following:

As constructed, the arms V and the terminal parts thereof, the sleeve K, and the bur N are the only movable or rotary parts ofthe machine. The small grains. or shelled corn, or other material to be used as a feed is placed in the hopper and upon being ground or reduced by the burs N Q falls upon the base A between the several arms V. The bur N is provided on top with two pins N which extend up into the grain space above the burs and in the rotation serve to agitate the material to be ground so that if the latter is damp and inclined to be sticky the agitation thereof will assist in its being properly fed to said burs. In one or more of the feeding cups or pockets created by the terminal portions W X a small quantity of feed is placed and the animal in an attempt to pick up the feed thus placed in the cup or pocket propels the latter and its arm by forcing his nose against the upright portion or wing W resulting in turning the bur N to grind the feed. As the arms V move in the direction of the dart in Fig. .2 the ground feed is gradually worked outward across the base finally finding its way through the passages 2 between two adjacent arms where it is pushed over the edge and falls into the cup or pocket, the latter being thus kept supplied with feed automatically as long as the animals continue to feed.

The ball bearing structure described produces a freely operating machine but little power being required in the grinding operation, the animals having considerable leverage due to the distance of the pockets to the rotating sleeve and slight power is required to operate the bur N. The inner ends of the arms preferably bear downward upon the plate F previously described and this plate supports their weight together with pressure placed upon said arms by the animals so that [but little friction exists between the latter and the base though said arms rotate in close proximity to said base or close enough to move the finest feed.

It may be stated that I may not make use of the bottom part X of the arms but deliver the feed directly upon the base behind means of the hand wheel M which can be rotated to produce the required adjustment and this can be reached through an opening 3 in the shell D which opening is closed by a door et. Any suitable or usual lid or cover 5 serves to protect the feed and the interior of the machine from the weather.

I may make slight changes in my improved machine, of course, such as will lie within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the arms may be slightly altered in form and other means equivalent to the arms may be used for positively forcing the grain outward behind the feeding wings W and the cups or pockets may be arranged in various ways or positions relatively to the arms so as to receive the feed.

In Fig. 5 the cup or pocket on the end of the arm represented by V and composed of the wing W and the bottom portion X has the said arm extending away from it in such a way that said arm in its rotation on the base causes the feed to be carried through a passage 2 to deliver onto the bottom. Thus each arm supplies its own cup or pocket whereas in the first form described one of the arms supplies the feed to an adjacent pocket. The base could be formed so that gravity could be used to assist the arms in moving the feed toward and into the cups or pockets.

It is observed that shell D overhangs the arms, there being just suliicient space between it and the base to permit the arms to rotate. This protects the grain within the machine from the animals or from poultry.

Fig. 6 shows a form of arm V2 which includes the upright wing W2 only, spaced ahead of said arm. In this form the bottom X, X of the other figures is eliminated.

Having thus described my invention I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base and a part lixed relatively to it including a feed grinding portion, a hopper, a second feed grinding portion, and a rotatable member operatively connected to said second portion including an arm to move in close proximity to the upper surface of the base and constructed and arranged to move outward across the base the reduced feed falling thereon from said grinding portions, said member being operated by an animal feeding from the machine.

2. In a feed grinding and feeding machine of the class described, the combination with a base and an upright fixed relatively, of a hopper, a grinding device, and a rotatable member beneath the grinding device arranged to deposit feed upon said base having a part of the said grinding device operatively connected to ,it and terminating at its extremity in a wing, said member adapted to be operated by an animal feeding at said wing and adapted and arranged to move the reduced material across the base to its outer edge behind said wing.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base and an upright fixed relatively, of a hopper fixed relatively to the upright, a grinding device, and a rotating part beneath the hopper adapted to move in close proximity to the base, one of the parts of the grinding device being rotatable therewith, said member terminating in a substantially upright portion adapted to be operated by an animal feeding on said base.

4. In a feed grinding machine of the class described, the combination with a support,

a grinding device, and a base in position to receive material reduced by said grinding device, a member rotatable relatively to the base and adapted to travel over the same in lose proximity to its upper surface, and operatively connected to the grinding device, said member terminating distant from the latter in a wing and adapted to be operated by pressure of an animal against the Wing in feeding to operate said grinding device, the said member including a part to move the material outward from its place of deposit toward the edge of the base.

In a machine of the class described the combination with a base and an upright fixed relatively. of a hopper and a portion of a feed grinding device fixed relatively to the upright, an inclosing shell depending below the hopper, its lower end being spaced above the base, and a rotatable member between the shell and the base and projecting outward from the former and terminating in a substantially upright portion or wing, said member having a portion of the grinding device operatively connected to it and adapted to be operated by an animal feeding at said portion or wing.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a base, of a feed grinding device arranged to deliver the reduced material upon the base, and means arranged to move over the base in close proximity to it and adapted to move the reduced material toward the outer edge of the same, said means being operatively connected to the grinding device and operated by an animal feeding from said base.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an upright fixed in a stationary position and including a feed grinding part, a member rotatable about said upright and including a feed grinding part to coperate with the first said part, the parts adapted to deliver the reduced material in the path of the member. the latter being operated by an animal feeding adjacent to it, said member being curved in the direction of its rotation and in its rotation adapted to move the feed outward toward its outer extremity.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an upright fixed in a stationary position, a feed grinding part fixed thereon, an arm rotatable about said upright, a second feed grinding part coperating with the first and rotated by the arm, the parts adapted to deliver the reduced material in the path of the arm, the latter being operated by a 'feeding animal and having a form adapted and arranged to move the reduced material outward toward the outer or free end of the arm.

S). In a machine of the class described, the combination of an upright fixed in a stationary position, a hopper, a feed grinding device part of which is rotatable, an arm rotatable about the upright and operatively engaging the said part, the'grinding device adapted to deliver reduced material in the path of the arm` a cylinder suspended above the plane in which the arm rotates, the latter adapted and arranged to move the material outward toward its free end outside the said cylinder and operated by an animal feeding adjacent to said arm.

l0. In a feed mill of the class described, the combination with a stationary base and a hopper fixed relatively, a grinding device part of which is fixed relatively to the hopper, a rotatable member extending across the base to just clear the same and having a portion of the grinding device operatively connected to it, and provided with a series of cups or pockets to receive material ground or reduced by the grinding device, said member adapted to be rotated by an animal feeding in one of said cups or pockets and arranged to move the material across the base toward its margin.

l1. In a feed mill of the class described. the combination of a stationary base and hopper, a grinding device in position to discharge material upon said base, part of which is fixed relatively to said hopper, and a member rotatable relatively to the base and in close proximity to it and having the other portion of the grinding device operatively connected thereto and including a wing, said member adapted to be operated by an animal pushing against said wing in feeding adjacent to it to actuate said grind ing device, said member adapted to move the ground material lying on the base to a position behind said wing.

1Q. In a feed mill of the class described, the combination of a stationary base and hopper, a grinding device in position to discharge material upon said base, part of which is fixed relatively to said hopper, a member' rotatable relatively to the base and in close proximity to it and having the other portion of the grinding device operatively connected thereto and including a wing, said member adapted to be operated by an animal pushing against said wing 1n feeding adjacent to it to actuate said grinding device, said member adapted to move the ground material lying on the base to a position behind said wing, and a depending stationary shell overhanging and covering the member inward from the wing.

l. In a feed grinding machine of the class described, the combination with a base and a grinding` device arranged to discharge the reduced material upon it, of a member rotatable in close proximity to the upper surface of the base, and having its axis of rotation arranged vertically, inward from the marginal edge of said base, and having an outwardly curved surface for a part of its length in the direction of its advance, said member terminating in a substantially vertical portion or wing, said arm adapted to move the material received upon the base progressively toward the margin of the latter.

l. In a grinding mill, the combination of a base and a grinding device, a rotatable member pivotcd substantially centrally of the base including an arm lying in close proximity to the upper surface ol' the base and movable o\er the same terminating remote from its pivot in a cup or pocket, said member being operatively connected to part of the grinding device, and also including a part to move the reduced material from the base into said cup or pocket, the said member adapted to be rotated by an animal feeding from said cup or pocket to operate Said grinding device.

l5. In a grinding mill, the combination of a grinding device, a base arranged to receive material thereon reduced by the grinding device, and means rotatable in close proximity to the base-and extending outward toward the margin of the base and adapted to be operated by a feeding animal and operatively connected to the grinding device. said means including a part to move the reduced material progressively across the surface of the base toward its marginal edge.

lo. In a feed grinding machine of the class described, the combination of a base including a depressed main marginal portion, a grinding device depositing reduced material upon the base, an arm operatively connected to said grinding device and rotatable in close proximity to the said upper surface of said base and terminating at its outer end in a wing extending down to near the surface of the lower marginal portion of the base, the rotation of the member causing the reduced material deposited from the grinding device to be carried across the base behind the said wing.

17. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support and a grinding device fixed relatively, a member below the grinding device rotatable relatively to the support, a second grinding device coperating with the first and operatively connected with said member, and means to adjust the said second device relatively to the first device and relatively to the said member.

l5. In a machine of the class described, a free grinding device, a member operatively engaging the same adapted to move in a horizontal plane and having a substantially upright surface outwardly curved in the direction of the advancing movement of said member, said surface extending from near its inner end to its outer end, said member including a wing portion spaced from its outer end in the direction of said advancing movement` the said reduced material being discharged from the end of said member between its position and that of said wing.

lf). In a machine of the class described, a feed grinding device, a member operatively engaging the same adapted to move in a horizontal plane and having a substantially upright surface outwardly curved in the direction of the advancing movement of said member, said surface extending from near its inner end to its outer end, said member including a wing portion connected to it above the plane of its lower surface and spaced from its outer end in the direction of its said advancing movement, the reduced material being discharged at the outer end of the said member between its position and that of the Wing directly behind and in the path of said wing.

i0. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support and a grinding device fixed relatively. a member beneath the grinding device and rotatable relatively to the support and the grinding device, a second grinding device operatively connected to said member, means to adjust the said second grinding device, a depending cylindrical portion overhanging the member. and an opening in the wall of the said portion opposite said means through which to reach and adjust the saine.

In testimony whereof I affix my in presence of two witnesses.

signature Witnesses W. I. SLnMMoNs, L. M. TnURLow.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

